In 2021, a freezer malfunctioned at a public health virology lab in Queensland, Australia. This incident led to the hurried relocation of hundreds of vials containing deadly viruses to another storage chamber. However, the transfer was conducted hastily and without proper documentation. By August 2023, authorities discovered that the whereabouts of many of these vials were unknown. Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, John Gerrard, revealed earlier this week that a total of 323 vials had been lost. He stated that the vials “may have been removed from this secure storage facility and are now lost or otherwise unaccounted for.” The missing vials include nearly 100 samples of the Hendra virus, two of hantavirus, and 223 of lyssavirus—each posing significant risks to human health. Hendra virus, primarily transmitted by bats, usually affects horses but can infect humans, where it has a mortality rate of approximately 57%. Hantavirus is spread through rat feces, urine, and saliva. In humans, it causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, characterized by fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, and fluid-filled lungs, with a fatality rate of about 38%. Lyssavirus, a form of rabies, is 100% fatal once symptoms appear, as no cure exists. Despite the alarming nature of these viruses, Gerrard sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that there is no evidence of an immediate threat. “It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which the public could be at risk. It is important to note that samples of these viruses become non-infectious very quickly outside of a low-temperature freezer and are typically destroyed through autoclaving, a standard laboratory practice, although this may not have been properly documented,” he explained. He also highlighted that Queensland has reported no human cases of Hendra virus or lyssavirus in the past five years and no recorded cases of hantavirus in Australia’s history. Social media has erupted with speculation and panic. Some fear that the vials may have been inadvertently discarded with regular laboratory waste, potentially putting people at risk if the discarded material is ever encountered. There are also darker theories, suggesting that the vials may have been intentionally stolen and could be used in a bioterrorist attack. The post Australian Lab Loses Hundreds of Deadly Virus Samples appeared first on Anomalien.com.